News and Insights

As Greater Boston's community foundation, the Boston Foundation is focused on the myriad of factors which make our city unique and successful. With an emphasis on strengthening this region's competitiveness in the global economy, the Foundation works with many partners to publish cutting edge research, hold public forums, and convene task forces of experts and stakeholders to create action agendas for real change.

TBF News

Eileen McAnneny presents at the Grade Incomplete forum

Last week's forum on community college funding was based on a look back at past efforts at performance funding, but it sparked an important conversation about the future of community colleges, says Senior Program Officer Antoniya Marinova.

In an opinion piece in the Boston Globe, Paul Grogan highlights four recommended areas of focus for the future of the Boston Public Schools, and urges the district not to turn its back on the lessons of successful schools.

In 2013, Massachusetts implemented a performance-based funding formula for community colleges. A new report looks at the formula's short history and the lessons that could be learned for future efforts to support students by rewarding colleges that demonstrate success.

In Part 2 of his interview, Vice President for Programs Orlando Watkins speaks about the department's work. "I’m working with a team of people who believe we do this work in service with community and that showing up humbly and listening and working in partnership are all essential to the change we want to see."

Paul Grogan weighs in on the merits of an appointed versus elected school committee in this piece by the Boston Globe's James Vaznis.

In an editorial, the Lowell Sun uses data from the Greater Boston Housing Report Card as it highlights the need for affordable housing investments in the Gateway Cities.

Build autonomy. Invest in school leaders. Serve today’s students. Give them a path to and through college. Paul Grogan shares a list of important decisions for the next Boston Public Schools Superintendent.

The arts publication Vanyaland shares a wonderful behind-the-scenes look at the Boston Music Awards' 617Sessions, funded in part by a Live Arts Boston grant from the Boston Foundation.

A new report looks back at the short-lived implementation of a performance-based funding formula for community colleges, and the lessons we could take away and apply to new efforts to ensure colleges are supported and rewarded as they grow and improve outcomes.

Download the report

The 2018 annual report, titled "Better Together," focuses on the key roles partnerships among the Boston Foundation, donors, philanthropies, nonprofits, advisors and others play in solving our most challenging problems.

Download the report